Shout it out to the world: Winter is over! Spring is finally here and the song of the birds can
be heard on the breeze while the sunbeams wake the world from it's slumber. Throw open
the windows, let the fresh breeze blow through and gather your cleaning supplies. It's time
for spring cleaning!
This month in Welcome Home magazine discover the origin of the washing machine. Been
dying to try a different kind of spring cleaning, but don't have a clue where to start? Have you
been thinking wistfully about that gorgeous shine that your Grandmother used to have on her
floors, only to remember that you don't have a clue how to get it? Fret no more! Dig into our
pages and enjoy the squeaky clean content! Everyone can do their part to make spring a
little cleaner, so come on and join in!
Have an marvelous March, and as always, Welcome Home!
If you have comments or suggestions please email us at welcomehome@activeezine.com,
we love to hear from you! Also if there is a subject that you would like to see covered, let us
know! We look forward to hearing from you!

Welcome Home is for entertainment
purposes only. This magazine is not
intended to solicit other brokersʼ
listings. If you are currently working
with another broker, please disregard
this information.

Businesses That Make A Difference
The GAP, fashionably making the world a better place.

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licensors, licensees or employees (collectively
Publisher) is intended as a general guide
illustrating common methods of common
practices, and the publisher makes no warranty
or guarantee whatsoever of the safety,
effectiveness, or other characteristic of any
methods or products described herein. Neither
does the Publisher assume any liability for
information published in any website or other
publication to which reference may be made
herein. Readers are cautioned to review and
comply with all written instructions, safety
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any of the methods described. Neither Published
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employees shall in any case be liable to you or
anyone else for any loss or injury or any direct,
indirect, incidental, consequential, special
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use of or failure to use any of the methods and/
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recommended or used used in connection with
any methods described or recommended.

Stir together first 8 ingredients in a small bowl until well
blended. Cover and chill 4 to 24 hours.
2. Meanwhile, snap off and discard tough ends of asparagus.
Cut asparagus into 6-inch pieces, reserving any remaining
end portions for another use. Cook asparagus in boiling
water to cover in a large saucepan 1 to 2 minutes or until
crisp-tender; drain. Plunge into ice water to stop the cooking
process; drain. Repeat procedure with haricots verts. Place
vegetables in zip-top plastic bags; seal and chill until ready
to serve. Serve mayonnaise mixture with chilled vegetables.

What You Need:
•

Clear Glass Vases

•

Painter’s Tape

•

Spray Paint

Instructions:
1. Wash and dry the vases.
2. Tape off desired areas with different
widths of painter’s tape to create your
pattern.
3. Spray lightly according to the directions.
4. The more coats of frosted-glass paint you
apply, the more opaque and noticeable
the stripes. We applied two coats to our
vases.

Southern Living, February 2013
Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens.com

Boost Your Homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Value
With Curb Appeal Upgrades
Have you ever driven up to your home and felt under whelmed by its appearance? Have you ever wondered why
some homes look great while others lack zest? Do you have a favorite street you like to drive down because all the
homes on it look sophisticated?
What is Curb Appeal? If you've answered "yes" to any of the above questions, then you're the type of person who is
aware of curb appeal. Curb appeal is a phrase used to describe how a home looks from the curb, or while driving by.
Curb appeal can be either positive or negative. A bland-looking house might have zero curb appeal. A cluttered yard
detracts from a home's beauty while a well-maintained and manicured yard boosts a home's appearance and raises its
perceived value.
Why is Curb Appeal Important? Good curb appeal is essential when preparing a home for sale so that it attracts
passersby. When a potential buyer drives up to your home, your curb appeal will be the first thing noticed. An opinion
of your property is formed in the first few seconds of viewing it. Make those seconds count by doing some curb
appeal homework. Each home on a street has the potential to add or detract from the over arching tone of the
neighborhood. It only takes one or two dowdy-looking homes to bring down the real estate prices on your street. Even
if you aren't about to sell your home, you can raise its prestige and contribute to the reputation of your neighborhood
by boosting its curb appeal.
How Do You Improve Curb Appeal? Great curb appeal doesn't just happen. With a little artistic flair or professional
guidance, you can make simple changes to your home to give it the pizzazz you're looking for. Do your neighbors a
favor, or at least do yourself a favor, by looking into what changes you can make.
Here's a list of suggestions:
1. Tackle and Touch-Up: No matter if your home looks a little worn from the previous owner or the ravages of time,
take an inventory of needed improvements and identify steps to take that are within your current budget. Perhaps
changing the home's siding isn't in the budget just now, but painting the trim might be a start.
2. Mend and Maintain: Mend fences, gates or porches in need of repair. Fix sidewalk cracks. Replace loose
shingles, rusty mailboxes or scratched and dented doors. Cut back overgrown shrubbery. Mend and maintain a lush
green lawn.
3. Professionalize and Prettify: Check out the latest landscaping trends pictured in home and real estate magazines
or online, or visit a neighborhood that has had professional landscaping done in order to get a new ideas. Wide
sweeping walkways and entrance-enhancing flowerbeds are key to taking your home from so-so to sensational. If you
aren't talented or don't have the time or equipment for major landscaping tasks, hire a local landscaper.
4. Conceal Clutter: Create a place for everything and put everything in its place. Put away sports equipment,
bicycles and other clutter after using it. If there's no room in your driveway or garage for your trailer or canoe, rent
offsite storage space.
5. Accessorize and Accentuate: Add attractive items that are consistent with the style and colors of your home for
that extra touch. Patio furniture, a garden bench, an attractive arbor, water fountain and in-season plantings add
warmth and glamour.
6. Liven with Lighting: Light up your house address numbers and walkway. Add landscape lighting to accent your
home's architecture and flowerbeds. If you're about to sell your home, done well, your improvements can be the
deciding factor in your home selling quicker and for a higher price than a similar home on the market. Don't settle for
the same old look you're used to seeing every time you drive up to your home. Increase its value by starting with
some basic maintenance and upgrades and enjoy your home even more than you already do while boosting its curb
appeal.
Written by Tina Fountain. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

Essential Cleaning Supplies
Using the correct cleaning supplies is important when the task of household cleaning rears its ugly head. This is vitally
important so the surfaces you are cleaning do not get damaged. It also will elevate the overall time it takes to clean and
the cleaning is usually finished with less effort on the part of the cleaner. Before you even buy the product from the
store, it is important to read the label on the bottle. The labels will list its common uses, any precautions, and
solutions. Even though a product might be labeled as an “all-purpose” cleaner, it may not be good for every
surface. Products that contain strong chemical like ammonia may permanently damage laminates or other plastic
surfaces. Sometimes strong cleaners are not necessary to get the job done. The only thing you might need is mild soap
and warm water.
When trying to clean the house for a large annual cleaning or a light everyday cleaning, it is a good idea to get your
essential cleaning supplies together before you start your cleaning. But, what are the essential supplies that will be
needed most often? Think about the things that you will need to clean.
Start from the ceiling and work your way down to the floor. An essential cleaning supply would be rags to dust
cobwebs in the corners, ceiling fan blades, and the tops of shelves and ledges. There are a lot of products out recently
that advertise “a better way to dust”. The truth is that an old rag will work just as well as these new products. Plus, they
are more cost effective because the rag is probably an old shirt or sock that has lost it’s mate and can therefore be
washed and used again rather then thrown out adding to the planet’s waste. Rags work well with cobwebs on their own

but, to dust shelves and some ledges, use a little bit of furniture polish. So in addition to rags in your cleaning kit, make sure
to tow along furniture polish. Another essential cleaning supply to add to your cleaning kit would be window washing
liquid. Most brand name products advertise a streak free shine with their product but, there is a trick to get streak free
windows without coughing up the extra dough on products that work just as well as the bargain brands; use newspaper to
wipe down the window glass instead of paper towels. Include a brown paper bag in your cleaning kit to toss used
newspapers in. When you’re done with your cleaning, the whole bag can be thrown into the recycling bin.
Other essential cleaning supplies include anti-bacterial spray. There are a lot of products out there that work well and are
specifically made for cleaning different parts of the house. Most are okay to use on an array of surfaces. So, include in your
cleaning kit, a spray that is specifically designed hard to clean soap scum and mildew for the bathroom and then a spray
that can be used on their kitchen or bathroom surfaces.
The last thing to clean in a room is the floor. Besides the vacuuming and the mopping, what are some other essential
supplies that you will need to include in your kit to tackle the floor? Mop, bucket, and floor cleaner are essential for
cleaning a non-carpeted area but it is hardly practical to carry these things from room to room as you accomplish your
cleaning. Keep these things together and pull them out when you are ready to use them. Instead, keep a rug freshener like a
powder or spray in your cleaning kit. When your cleaning supplies are organized and easily accessible, the job of household
cleaning can be fast, easy and efficient on a regular basis.
Written by Borge Nielsen. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

It Is Time For Spring Cleaning!

I don始t know how spring cleaning became a tradition, and I know that phrase means different things to different
people. And while some of that cleaning could take place at any time of the year (and often does), there始s just
something about the spring to help you think about airing things out and fluffing things up for the coming
months of growth.
While this makes sense for homes, it makes at least as much sense for lives. Your year is starting to heat up
and there are many opportunities, you also may feel like you`re coming out of a long winter mentally . . . so it始s
time.
It`s time for some personal spring cleaning.
Here are five things you can do to prepare yourself for better results the rest of the year!

Straighten up your working area. For the same
reason you clean your garage and scrub up the
areas in your home that you haven`t done in
awhile, itʼs important to do the same for you work
area. Does your desk currently help or hinder your
efforts to do your best work and have your best
focus? Do you have books or other items that
aren`t where they could or should be? Are you
behind on your filing, or is it time to go through
your filing system? This is purposefully the least
metaphorical on the list - since it really is cleaning!
I challenge you (and myself) to take the time to do
it - if not today, at least this week - not because it`s
the right thing to do or even for aesthetic reasons,
but because it will dramatically improve your
creativity and productivity.
Fertilize your relationships. You fertilize your
lawn in the spring to encourage growth and nurture
the development of strong grass plants. Now is the
time to reinvigorate your relationships in the same
way. Take a look at the important relationships in
your life. Determine what you can do to nurture
and help them grow in the coming weeks. And
remember it isnʼt enough just to buy the fertilizer it wonʼt help your grass sitting in the bag! In the
same way, you must make the call, schedule the
meal, invite people over or do whatever you need
to to nurture your relationships.
Dust off your reading list. Spring cleaning almost
always includes some sort of attention to those
corners and nooks that havenʼt seen much activity
- and frankly need some dusting! Howʼs your
bookshelf looking these days? If you have the
books you want to read, dust off your stack, pick
one up and get started! If you donʼt, dust off your
Amazon account, find your library card or get
yourself to your favorite book seller and get at it!
Freshen up your goals and objectives. In the
spring you probably open the windows and let the
air blow through the house to freshen up the
curtains, sheets and clear the air. You need to do
the same thing with your goals. Open your eyes
and look at your goals in a new way! This is more
than just reviewing your goals (youʼre already
doing that regularly, right?); this is looking at them
with the perspective of the year so far. How are
you doing? Do you want/need to adjust things
based on your current reality? Have new priorities
popped up that you didnʼt predict at the beginning
of the year? These are the types of questions that

will help you refresh and reinvigorate your goals and your outcomes for the year.
Clean up your habits. Most spring cleaning
includes closets. At some point you look at your
clothes, decide which ones to keep, which ones to
get rid of. You pull out your summer clothes and
make sure everything fits and you have everything
you want in your closet for the coming months. If
youʼre like me, the rest of the year you don`t really
think too much about your closet. You look in and
pull out clothes, without thinking much about the
closet. It`s the same with your habits. Since they
are subconscious, it makes sense to purposefully
look at your habits occasionally to decide which
ones are working for you, which are serving your
needs, and which ones you may have outgrown.
You wonʼt find new habits at the mall, but you can
change your habit “wardrobe” in a conscious way
too.
Of course these suggestions can be done at any
time of the year - in fact you may want to do them
more than once a year. After all, you likely survey
your closet more than once a year - and isnʼt your
personal productivity and happiness at least as
important as a clean closet?
I know all of these things have been and will be a
part of my spring cleaning regimen, and I know
when I do them it makes a difference.
Perhaps spring is a good time for this type of
cleaning, but it doesnʼt matter if itʼs spring or not.
The best time is really right now - whenever you
may be reading this. These steps will help you
clean out the cobwebs in your mind and set your
course for greater growth.
Potential Pointer: Most people make time to do
spring cleaning in their homes, garages and lawns.
For the same reasons, you need to spruce up,
polish up and clean up the rest of your life. The
calendar doesn`t need to dictate when you do this
cleaning, but when you do it, your results and
enjoyment will improve!

Written by Kevin Eikenberry. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

History of the Washing Machine
Sand, Streams and No Fabric Softener

In 1797 the first washing machine – the washboard - was invented, changing laundry as we knew it. No
longer did people have to rely on abrasive sands, rudimentary homemade soaps and natural streams.
1797 hailed the dawn of the “wash board era” which, while a huge innovation at the time, was still
remarkably time consuming and incredibly hard work.

Throughout the Victorian times washing days
were scarce, taking place on a monthly basis. In
fact the longer your family could go between
laundries, the more highly ranked you were
perceived to be. This may sound like a
controversial statement, but quite simply you had
more clothes – a symbol of wealth and status.

In 1851, across the pond, American James King
patented the first washing machine resembling
todayʼs appliance. While still hand powered,
Kingʼs machine used a drum but it was expensive
and therefore not widely used at home. The idea
didnʼt really catch on for another 20 years.

Of course Victorian Britain was not considered
one of the cleanliest places. Hair teamed with lice,
human waste was tossed into the streets and the
River Thames was almost an open sewer
breeding cholera epidemics and numerous other
problems. One of these problems was The Great
Stink of 1858, when during the summer months
the smell of the Thames in the hot summer
threatened to overwhelm London with its disease
and putrid stench. Even parliament was affected
by the smell of the Thames.

In 1874 William Blackstone presented his wife
with a present heʼd built. The gift was a washing
machine - who could ask for anything more?!?
Blackstone's washing machine took the handscrubbing out of washing day even though it was
still manually powered. Inside the main tub, a
small, flat, pegged piece of wood was moved by
the use of an outer hand-crank. This removed the
dirt from clothes. Blackstoneʼs machines were
mass produced and very successful bringing with
them developments to the machine such as
wringers and replacing the wood with metal.

The industrial revolution – washing boards,
dollies and mangles

Electricity and the modern day washing
machine appliance

With the world such a dirty place, one can
understand laundry was not quite as important as
it is nowadays but with the industrial revolution
looming, change was on its way. During this
period the Washing Dolly was in great use
throughout the country – especially as this took
place before water was piped into homes. A
washing dolly is a pole with one end shaped like a
small three-legged stool. It was used to agitate the
clothes in the boiling water much like the spinning
drum in todayʼs machines.

It is unclear who invented the electric washing
machine. Alva J. Fisher is often cited as its creator
however other sources state Louis Goldenberg (a
Ford employee) of New Brunswick, New Jersey
invented the electric washing machine around the
late 1800s to early 1900s.

In 1853 the tax on soap was abolished and so it
became much more commonplace and starches
and blues were used to keep white items white –
although this was viewed as a specialist skill.
Towards the end of the 19th century mangles
became popular in households for wringing and
flattening clothes – reducing the need for a flat
iron. The design became smaller and cheaper and
so the technology was more easily incorporated
into houses.

The electric washing machine has evolved in its
many forms to become a staple of the modern
household. Much like other kitchen appliances
washing machines are vital in our daily life and
have been cited as a factor in womenʼs liberation
as they helped housewives escape the drudgery
of household chores.
Washing machines integrated into the kitchen or
utility room environment highlight just how
necessary washing machines are to modern
society.

Washing began early in the morning to cater for
the hard work and drying, taking a whole day to
complete - hence the phrase “washing day”.
The first washing machines

Written by Kate Owen. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

Advanced Spring Cleaning

There are a million articles, books and courses that you can find about spring cleaning,
clearing the clutter, organizing, and the art of Feng Shui. You can even hire a consultant
to come into your home and do these things for you. This article is going to go a step
beyond that. You will be able to rejuvenate your home in areas where Lysol, a carpet
cleaner, and organizational systems fail to go!

I’m going to assume that you all
ready know the basics of cleaning,
removing whatever you don’t need or
aren’t emotionally attached to, and
how to keep your belongings
organized. I’m also going to assume
that you understand that a clean and
healthy environment improves your
physical, mental, emotional, and
spiritual health. I believe you’re
reading this article because you all
ready work hard to create a clean and
healthy environment for yourself and
your family.
What we really want to focus on with
this article is that not so fresh feeling
that occasionally lingers even after
you’ve cleaned, organized, and
simplified down to the bare bones.
There are a variety of reasons why
this might happen. Maybe the room
doesn’t have enough windows, or
other natural resources to refresh
itself in a natural way.
Or, it could have lingering energy
from bad memories. Those energies
need a little more work to get rid of
so you can fill the room with the
warmth and comfort you want to feel
in there instead. The following tools
will help you with your efforts.
If the room you are struggling with
doesn’t have enough windows to
provide plenty of natural lighting, it
may have a lingering stale feeling to
it. There are a couple of things you
can do to correct this. One is to buy
light bulbs that have a natural light to
them. They are available at most
places you buy regular bulbs at. This
will give the room the feeling that
sunshine is pouring in. Another good
idea is to burn candles. Even
unscented ones are perfect in giving

the room a feeling of warmth and
comfort that the sun would
normally offer.
Speaking of candles, scented
candles are a wonderful source of
aromatherapy and can help
freshen a room while your offering
the additional light. Try to stick
with one scent at a time though so
the room doesn’t become
overwhelming. The best scents for
a room lacking in sunlight are light
or citrusy scents that will help
lighten the room’s atmosphere.
Mother Nature offers many types
of naturally cleaning items.
Bringing these items of nature
indoors is the best way to keep
your space refreshed. Plants are
perfect for any room and
continuously clean the air for you.
Philodendrons, Spider plants, and
Pothos were found to be the most
efficient in the removal of
formaldehyde. Gerbera Daisies
and Chrysanthemums were found
to be effective in the removal of
benzene, a known carcinogen. You
can check with your local
greenhouse for more information
about the types of plants that will
work the best for you.
Gemstones and crystals have
energetic vibrations that interact
with the atmosphere in a room
and are perfect for helping to
create more positive energies. You
can find decorative gemstones in
any shape and size to fit the
scheme of your room’s décor. You
can also use smaller gemstones
and put them in a decorative dish,
or in planters with your plants.
Clear Quartz is a favorite general

stone that works well to balance energies.
You might want to check with your local
New Age store to see what other
recommendations they may have that are
more specific for your situation.
Water fountains have multiple benefits in
helping to keep a room fresh. The water
helps hydrate the air, while the sound of a
fountain running offers soothing water
sounds for stress relief benefits. Water
Fountains come is a broad variety of styles
and sizes. You will be sure to find one that
will match the dĂŠcor of the room perfectly.
Stubborn, negative energies call for more
extensive measures to remove them. The
easiest thing to do to completely refresh
the energy in a room is to burn some Sage;
it has cleansing properties in it that will
replace negative energies with fresh
energetic elements.
There are Sage candles, or even dried Sage
in a fireproof container will work beautifully.
While you are doing this, meditate about
positive feelings and imagine them filling
out into the room. Nothing is more powerful
than your own intentions.
One other idea Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll leave you with is to
consider getting a House Blessing. Blessing
ceremonies abound in every religion and
spiritual discipline. You can have someone
come into your home for a House Blessing
when no one is there, or you can be
involved and make it a very special event
for your family to be involved with.
I hope these ideas help you in your efforts
of creating a heaven on earth for you and
your family. If you would like more
suggestions, or would like specific ideas for
your particular circumstances, I would be
more than happy to help you further.
Remember, Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no place like home!
Written by John Conti. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

Why Choose A Green Home?
5 Reasons Why To Make The Eco-Friendly Choice

As the world continues to realize the horrendous effects of global warming and pollution, many
people are changing the way they live today so that it can have a positive impact tomorrow.
Green homes are slowly gaining much needed attention and popularity over the years. More
and more people are getting concerned about proper living conditions and the potential health
and financial benefits of green homes. Here we will go over just a few of those benefits in order
to better inform people who are not completely familiar with this concept with the intention of
encouraging them to move into one in the future.

1. Lowered Utility Bills in a Green Home
One of the most noticeable differences of
living in Green home is the significant
reduction in utility bills such as water and
electricity. These homes are also known as
sustainable structures. This means that they
have been constructed through a specific
process comprising of resource efficient
material that enhances a home's entire
foundation.
2. Better Temperature Control
Every room is properly insulated in order to
keep the temperatures at normal levels.
These insulations prevent the air
conditioning from working harder and longer
in order to keep the house cool. In the same
respect the insulations trap the heat during
winters and help the gas or electric heaters
to run optimally. This directly impacts utility
bills and saves the occupants thousands of
dollars over the year.
3. Cost Effective Use of Solar Power
Another thing to note is that these homes
also rely on readily available free solar
energy to power up. They also store excess
energy to be used at night. This makes
them extremely cost efficient.

plants, these homes use waste water from
dishwaters or washing machines for
irrigation purposes for the garden or
washing cars and toilets. Many homes come
equipped with rainwater collectors which are
used for similar purpose.
5. Improved Quality of Air
Green homes are built to counter and block
air impurities that can easily get inside
homes. Modern HVAC designs come fully
equipped with adequate ventilation and air
filtration for all rooms of a home especially
the isolated ones such as the kitchen. The
materials and products used for constructing
such homes have extremely low emission
ratings. This translates to improve indoor air
quality. Many traditional building materials
emit toxic gases. Environment friendly
homes avoid them completely because
these gases are hazardous to health and
can severely harm infants and little children.
No one can argue with a healthy home that
saves its occupants money every month. A
green home is essentially developing into a
trend as more and more people make them
their choice of residence. The sooner you
move into one, the quicker you and your
family can start utilizing its health and
financial benefits.

4. Aids in Waste Reduction
A Green home actively seeks to reduce
waste of water, and other materials used
during construction. Water is a basic need
for every human being for consumption and
other purposes around the household such
as cleaning and gardening. In order to
reduce the dependency on water treatment
Written by Jason Maxwell. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com.

Products To Love In March
I don’t know about you, but I’m getting to the age
where I like my denim to be a certain way. I want
it to fit without cutting off my circulation, and I
want to look like a real grown up woman, not like I
stole my 13 year old niece's jeans. Is that too
much to ask? The GAP does not think so! I love
their Long and Lean Jeans. They have the perfect
fit and the come at a very reasonable price too! So
do your self a favor ladies, put down the hip
huggers with the one inch zipper (can we say
muffin top?) and pick yourself up a pair that are
fashion forward, comfortable and affordable to
boot! Please click here for more information.

FIE

LD

TE

ST

ED

Reviewed by Rural Jungle Testing

Get ready for some smooching! With
St. Patricks Day right around the
corner it’s time to show some green.
This Kiss Me I'm Irish t-shirt is
100% Fine Jersey Cotton. It come
sin a vibrant Kelly Green and is a
Juniors/Girly sized t-shirt. It has an
adorable distressed image of lips
and the text, "Kiss Me I'm Irish"
printed on front. Please click here
for more information.

Show your support of The American Red Cross this
month with this Red Cross Vintage Medic Shoulder
Bag. Made of stonewashed canvas material, this
new & extremely stylish vintage style messenger
bag will make an awesome fashion statement
while showing your support of a valuable
institution. Large main compartment with flaps
and brown colored leather closing straps with
metal buckle closure. Adjustable shoulder strap
make this a very convenient handbag that can be
worn messenger style over one shoulder. Please

click here for more information.

Products To Love In March
As in The Irish Heritage Cookbook, Margret Johnson
continues on her mission to inform Americans that
contemporary Irish cooking means not just a rustic,
stick-to-your-ribs Irish Stew with Brown Soda Bread,
but also Green Tomato Tarte Tatin, as original and
sophisticated as one found anywhere in Europe. The
book reads like a tourist itinerary for hungry pub
crawlers and shares history on favorite pubs and
their famous and infamous patrons and proprietors.
Leigh Beish's full-page photos deliver elegant
interpretations of humble pub grub like Bacon and
Cabbage, and Ploughman's Lunch. So grab this book,
your apron and get to whipping up an awesome
culinary irish feast to impress everyone this St.
Paddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day! Please click here for more information.

Guys have we got something for you
this St. Patricks day: The Kiss Me,
I'm Irish Belt Buckle. Emblazoned
with the lucky shamrock clover this
awesome twist on traditional green
clothing is perfect for St. Patrick's
Day, March 17th. Made of detailed
fine pewter and enamel color this is
sure to catch the eye of that one
lucky lady you want to steal a St.
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Go green with the new Brita Grand Green
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City Spotlight

Phoenix, AZ
Spending vacation time in Phoenix will give you access to
a range of activities and interests you never knew existed;
the area is full of great shops, restaurants, hotels and all the
traditional things you'd expect to see in a tourist
destination. You will also find a great deal more and to
give you some ideas we've compiled the top five tourist
day trip ideas for you and your family to enjoy.
The Desert Botanical Garden will introduce you to the
desert flora and fauna in ways you have never imagined.
How many cacti are there do you think? A lot more than
you know that's for sure and they grow into the most other
worldly shapes and sizes too. The garden is located in the
Papago Park and is open all year round and is itself a
sought after venue for exhibitions and events of all shapes
and sizes with music evenings, glass art, and dancing,
drinking and dining forming just a small part of the annual
event calendar.
Deer Valley Rock Art Center. Long before white settlers
and Mexicans occupied the Valley of the Sun, ancient
Native Americans farmed and worked the land and lived in
the area going back thousands of years. The Deer Valley
Rock Art Center provides access to the petroglyphs at
Hedpeth Hills and will provide you with an insight into the
lives of the original settlers through more than 1,500 works
of rock art. The venue also hosts a variety of exhibitions
and events so check the schedule for when you are
planning to visit.

The Heard Museum is renowned as the home of the art
and culture of the Indians of the Southwest with a huge
collection of Kachina dolls, pottery, basketwork, textiles
and jewelry exhibits. The museum is home to ten
permanent exhibitions and includes outdoor displays to
delight visitors of all ages with guided tours included in
the admission prices and children under 12 are free.
Heritage Square Foundation. Take a trip back to the start
of Phoenix's modern origins with eight lovingly restored
houses centered on the showpiece of Rosson House. All of
the restored buildings date back from the late 1800's when
Phoenix was growing fast from a frontier town frequented
by cowboys and mountain men. There are also a large
number of museums, shops and restaurants to visit and
enjoy a great day out living the life of one of the original
settlers who founded this great city.
The Medical Museum. Dr Robert Kravetz put together
the initial Medical Museum together and today it has
grown to house hundreds of exhibits of medical mystery
which is now housed in the lobby of the Phoenix Baptist
Hospital. Medical instruments from the very early days of
medicine are on show so visitors can see how a tooth was
pulled over a hundred years ago or what the treatment for
shingles was in the days when there were no drugs or
modern day conveniences. The exhibition is open seven
days a week and there is no charge for trying to convince
your kids that medicine is the career option they should be
choosing.
Written by Lawrence Reaves, courtesy of Articlesbase.com

Businesses That Make
A Difference

At Gap Inc., social responsibility is
fundamental to how we do business.

It means everything from ensuring
that workers are treated fairly to
addressing our environmental impact.

And it's now covered in depth on our
new social responsibility website at
www.gapinc.com/socialresponsibility.
What are we doing to be a
responsible company?
We're working around the world to
improve factory conditions and help
women advance. We're designing
more sustainable stores and products,
and getting creative about protecting
natural resources. We're continuing to

make Gap Inc. a company where
people are proud to work and able to
reach their career goals. We're
investing in communities by applying
business innovation to social
challenges.
We've created a new social
responsibility site.
We've shifted from a printed report to
a websiteÂ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it's more informative,
timely, interactive and environmentally
friendly.Â

chain, environment, employees and
community investment), including
videos, stories, detailed data, and a
world map highlighting our work;
there's even a section on the social
and environmental initiatives of our
individual brands: Gap, Old Navy,
Banana Republic, Piperlime and
Athleta.
Check out www.gap.com to find out
more.

Laundry was first done in watercourses, letting the water carry away the materials which could cause stains and
smells. Laundry is still done this way in some less industrialized areas and rural regions. Agitation helps remove the
dirt, so the laundry is often rubbed, twisted, or slapped against flat rocks. Wooden bats or clubs could be used to
help with beating the dirt out. These were often called washing beetles or bats and could be used by the waterside
on a rock (a beetling-stone), on a block (battling-block), or on a board. They were once common across Europe and
were also used by settlers in North America. Similar techniques have also been identified in Japan.

When no watercourses were available, laundry was done in water-tight vats or vessels. Sometimes large metal
cauldrons were filled with fresh water and heated over a fire; boiling water was even more effective than cold in
removing dirt. Wooden or stone scrubbing surfaces set up near a water supply or portable washboards, including
factory-made corrugated metal ones, gradually replaced rocks as a surface for loosening soil.

Once clean, the clothes were wrung out - twisted to remove most of the water. Then they were hung up on poles or
clotheslines to air dry, or sometimes just spread out on clean grass.

So the next time you start to complain about laundry day and the fact that you have to carry your clothes to the
washed and dump them in, just remember it's worlds away from where it used to be! :)